Education
Calls for balanced use of technology
A LEADING child psychologist has warned of the dangers of an over use of technology by the UK’s children. Linda Blair, speaking at the Cheltenham Science Festival, has suggested parents refrain from allowing children to use electronic devices before they set off for school as she believes it could harm their concentration levels in school. she has also called on schools to limit the amount of homework that required computer use.
She said: “It makes me mad because a lot of schools are doing screen homework. It’s so stupid – I wish they wouldn’t do that.”
However, a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson has hit back, stating: “It is part of our role as educators to provide pupils with the experience of using a wide range of technologies to support learning in order to equip them with the skills required in the modern working environment. Ideally, there should be a balanced approach to the use of technology in the home just as there is in school.”
Ms Blair did however accept that limiting screen use ‘was not a popular move’, but believes it can ‘transform things’ for young people. She went on to suggest a partial move away from the use of technology, saying: “I encourage people to try it for a couple of days,” and continued by suggesting families ‘establish one point in the day where the family focuses on each other. Saying: “That used to be called dinner. All screens are off and you actually talk to each other. They will moan but 10 years from now they will remember it and thank you. You have to set limits. Kids have got to know how to manage their screens and be in control.”
The author of the book, ‘The Key to Calm’, also encouraged parents to set an example by limiting their ‘screen time’ and in her book states that ‘computers and other screens emit a blue light that has been shown to reduce levels of melatonin – a chemical produced by the body that aids restful sleep’.
Two leading teaching unions also wanted to have their say on the issue.
Owen Hathway, NUT Wales Policy Officer, said: “It will be interesting to review the research into this issue. It is of course important that children do come to school enthused and ready to work. We know that pupils who are up late watching TV or playing with computers or games stations can lack energy and concentration in class. It could well be that there is a similar impact for early morning use. At the same time we are in a digital age and smartphones and tablets are part, not just of modern life, but of the learning experience. I think what is important is that any use of these technologies around school are geared towards supplementing education. Using these devices for educational purposes can be highly effective and should be encouraged in that regard, but naturally only where it benefits rather than hinders the child’s ability to play an active role in the classroom.”
Dr Philip DIxon, Director of ATL Cymru, also went on to say: “The advent of computers and the internet has obviously provided us with great tools unknown to previous generations. Our children are growing up in a technological age and will need to be digitally literate to survive and prosper in the twenty first century. However, as with all advances we need to tread carefully. Some research suggests that too much computer work can be bad for us all let alone young children. So we need a healthy mix of learning and enjoyment from a variety of sources.”
Plaid Cymru Shadow Education and Skills Minister Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said: “Plaid Cymru’s election campaign in 2007 had a policy of free laptop computers for pupils. In the One Wales government we delivered on that pledge to those pupils most in need. This policy provided a level playing field for those who did not have access to a computer at home. Smart devices are part of the world of work and our everyday lives. As a parent and an elected representative I think we should embrace technology and not try and ban children from using them. There of course has to be a balanced approach between the use of technology and traditional methods of learning. There is evidence that smart screens can stimulate in an inappropriate way but this is best handled by the class teacher. Pupils often outstrip teachers in their skilful use of modern computing but we also need to teach coding to create, as well as use, programmes. We need young people equipped with the skills that can make the Welsh workforce a global competitor and just as importantly the skills to access knowledge throughout their lives.”
In the US research has also highlighted problems with pupils and mobile phone use, an increasing issue here in Wales. Academics at the Ohio University, Illinois State University and Nebraska University found out that students sending and receiving messages while studying actually scored lower test grades. 145 undergraduates took part in the research.
In the report it stated: “It is a common occurrence to observe students who are physically present, yet mentally preoccupied by non-course-related material on their mobile devices. As mobile devices have deeply saturated the college student population, this problem will likely continue to pose a significant obstacle.”
Some lecturers and universities are in favour of incorporating this technology into lessons, others want to see an outright ban on their use. The research went on to state: “Perhaps one of the biggest challenges instructors face in the 21st Century college classroom is the struggle of retaining student interest and engagement while students remain connected to the outside world through their mobile devices.”
A study published last month by the London School of Economics utilised schools in four English cities and concluded that test scores increased by more than 6% in those schools which banned the use of mobile phones. Researchers also concluded that it was the low-achieving pupils who were most likely to be distracted by these devices.
Education
Disabled children ‘denied rights to education’
DISABLED children and young people in Wales are being fundamentally let down and denied their right to education, Senedd Members warned.
Buffy Williams, who chairs the children’s committee, led a debate after an inquiry found many disabled children do not have equal access to education and childcare.
The Labour politician raised concerns about the Welsh Government rejecting six of the 32 recommendations emerging from the committee’s 239-page report.
She welcomed recognition that more must be done to uphold children’s rights to education.
But, addressing Welsh ministers, Ms Williams warned: “We do not feel that your response commits to a step change in the pace and scale of the action required to do so.
“Our committee, like the online advisory group, worries that maybe you are not giving these issues the priority they deserve.”
She told the Senedd that families’ distressing experiences left an imprint, with the committee hearing some children are thinking about and attempting suicide due to a lack of support.
Ms Williams said parents, carers and young people on the advisory group believe ministers’ formal response to the report fails to recognise the seriousness of the issues families face.
She warned the Welsh Government appears to have “resigned” itself to a substantial shortfall in inclusive childcare for disabled and neurodivergent children.
Criticising ministers’ decision to rebuff calls for mandatory training on disability for all school staff, she stressed the importance of understanding and meeting children’s needs.
Ms Williams, who represents Rhondda, said the Welsh Government’s response appears to delegate responsibility for equity in childcare and education to councils.
She asked: “What more will it take for the Welsh Government to step in, to give local authorities the support they so clearly need?”
Gareth Davies said support for disabled children is patchy across Wales, with schools lacking funding, staff and expertise to deliver inclusive education.
Mr Davies, the Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister, warned that disabled children disproportionately experience bullying in school as he called for greater safeguards.
Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan described the committee’s inquiry as heartbreaking, with failings having a devastating impact on families.
She told the debating chamber or Siambr that children as young as five or six have been traumatised and failed by the education system.
Carolyn Thomas, a Labour backbencher who chairs the petitions committee, stated the Senedd has received five petitions on Wales’ additional learning needs (ALN) reforms.
“The sheer number of petitions and signatures highlights the strength of feeling,” she said.
South Wales East Laura Anne Jones warned ALN support is one of the most pressing issues facing families, with lower-level needs “falling under the radar”.
She said it is disgraceful that so many teachers and assistants still lack basic neurodiversity training, which leads to disabled children’s behaviour being wrongly labelled disruptive.
Calling for urgent action, the Conservative criticised ministers for failing to accept “crucial” recommendations, saying: “Inclusive education is not a luxury, it is a right.”
Hefin David, whose daughter is autistic, sought to place the debate in historical context as he drew on his own family’s experiences.
He said: “In the 1970s and ’80s, my daughter would have been in an institution for most of her early life, she would have spent the whole time there.”
The Caerphilly Senedd Member recognised that progress is sometimes not fast enough but he emphasised that young people are being treated better today than ever before.
Dr David, who is stepping down from the children’s committee, said: “To take too much of a downbeat note on these things is to devalue the experience of those who suffered.”
The Labour politician described the 32 recommendations as “too many”, warning this is problematic in terms of setting people up to fail with resources spread so thin.
Responding to the debate on November 12, Lynne Neagle apologised to families for their experiences which she said made for distressing and sobering reading.
Wales’ education secretary said: “I am truly sorry … and I say on behalf of the [Welsh] Government that it is not good enough.”
Ms Neagle, whose first job after university was working with parents of disabled children, recognised that families too often feel the need to fight for support.
“It affected me deeply,” she told the Senedd. “And I want to acknowledge that not enough has changed for enough families – we can and we must do better.”
She said: “Rights on their own are not enough, they must be translated into action…. I know too many children and families have been waiting too long for their rights to become action.
“Like them, I am impatient for change. As a government, we will not stop until we get it right for all children and young people in Wales.”
Business
Kurtz addresses Employment and Skills Convention
SENEDD Member Samuel Kurtz kicked off an Employment and Skills Convention at the Cardiff City Stadium recently, organised by the Learning and Skills Institute. The event sought to unite organisations, businesses, and training providers to discuss critical issues surrounding employment and skills development across Wales.
The convention featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including local Samuel Kurtz MS, who is the Shadow Minister for the Economy and Energy; Rhys Morris, Managing Director of The Busy Group; and Megan Hooper, Director for Employment and Skills at Serco. Together, they explored strategies for increasing employment and the positive impacts this can have on individuals, young people, and the broader community.
Following the event, Samuel Kurtz said: “It was a privilege to speak at this convention and to underscore the vital role of collaboration between government and the private sector in aligning skills and training with the evolving needs of our economy.
“By enhancing skills and creating jobs, we can foster a resilient workforce that will not only meet today’s demands but also drive essential green infrastructure projects, ensuring a prosperous future for young people in Wales.
“Welsh Government Ministers must acknowledge their role in addressing high levels of economic inactivity. Introducing employment targets is essential to support people in re-entering the workforce and contributing to Wales’ economic growth.”
Education
Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates
RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.
Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.
The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”
He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.
Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.
He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”
Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.
The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.
Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.
Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.
“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.
Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.
She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”
The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.
Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.
“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”
In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.
Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.
Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.
She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”
Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.
She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”
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